#august 29th is a state of mind

[shyrule]

next update… august 29th

[wolfnanaki]

So. Goodbye Volcano High.

I've been following this game closely since it was first revealed at Sony's Future of Gaming event back in 2020. And after suffering delays brought on by the pandemic, a narrative reboot, and a years-long hate campaign, the game is steadily approaching its August 29th release date. And while I've posted a bit about it here, I haven't properly introduced the game to you all.

Set in a world of anthropomorphic dinosaurs, you play as Fang, a nonbinary pterodactyl and musician. Senior year has just started for them at Volcano High, and Fang's ready to go legit with their band Worm Drama. But their friends and bandmates, Trish and Reed, now have their own diverging interests.

For Fang, it feels like the world they knew is coming to an end.

Except it literally is.

There's an asteroid coming, one that will wipe out the dinosaurs in eight months. And as the day approaches and the threat of extinction becomes more real, Fang is forced to live boldly and make hard choices with the time they have left.

Fang will perform music throughout the game in the form of a rhythm game, and they show how Fang expresses their feelings throughout the narrative. The choices you make will impact the music they play, giving every playthrough its own unique soundtrack.

Of course, there are lots of other exciting activities. You can design your band's logos and posters. You can doomscroll on dinosaur Twitter. You can play TTRPGs with friends. You can check out other dinos' social media profiles. You can get Tarot readings. And your interactions with other characters can unlock past memories you can recall later.

But most important is the game's narrative system. Rather than choices being assigned to a simple button press, you have to move and hold the analog stick on the choice - and the game makes sure each choice feels like it matters.

Choices can have a visual effect to indicate Fang's state of mind. Choices can change before the timer runs out. Choices might require extra input to show how important committing to it is. And you can miss out on choices if you hesitate or wait too long.

This is a game that wears its queer heart on its sleeve with a plethora of gay, lesbian, bi, trans, and nonbinary characters. It has a story that encourages you to truly commit to your thoughts and feelings. Because you're not going to get the chance again. Every choice you make impacts Fang's relationships, music, and story.

There's eight months of your life left. What are you going to do with them? Fight tooth and nail to live your dreams? Patch things up with your family? Finally tell your crush how you feel? Spend time with your friends? Knock out your bucket list? Try to do it all?

Or is it better to leave everything unsaid?

If any of this sounds interesting to you, I highly encourage you to wishlist this game on Steam or on the PlayStation Store.

[pingxie-exchange]

Hi and welcome to the Pingxie Exchange: a fic & art exchange about the Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling pairing!

In this exchange, participants will be anonymously matched to create gifts for one another during a five week creation period. The gifts will be revealed on August 17th: the day Wu Xie welcomed Xiaoge back after his 10-year-long absence behind the Bronze Gate.

This exchange is open to all the DMBJ canons (adaptations featuring Wu Xie or Xiaoge and the original novels). It will take place on AO3, so you need an AO3 account to participate–if you don’t have one, you can request one on AO3; if there isn’t enough time, no worries - contact the mods at pingxie-exchange@hotmail.com, on DreamWidth at pingxieEX, or here on tumblr, and we can send you an invitation!

Please read the full guidelines (found as a pinned post on both DW and tumblr) carefully before signing up.

Schedule

Sign-ups open: June 18th Sign-ups end: June 28th 11:59 PM Anywhere On Earth Matching: June 29th - July 5th Assignments out: no later than 6th July Assignments due: August 10th 11:59 PM Anywhere On Earth Gift reveals: August 17th Creator reveals and treats deadline: August 24th

Guidelines

This is a ship exchange: as such, all the works created for this event must be focused on Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling. Works with threesomes/moresomes or other pairings involving Wu Xie and/or Zhang Qiling are not appropriate for this exchange, but background ships of other characters are fine!

You will be expected to create a gift matching your recipient’s request. Filling any specific prompt is not obligatory, but try to create something you honestly think your recipient will enjoy!

You must not include anything stated as “do not want” in your recipient’s sign-up.

The minimum requirements for the gifts are 300 words for fic or one sketch on unlined paper for art (traditional or digital; no manips).

After the matching is done, all the requests will be made visible to everyone to allow for treating! There are no minimum requirements for treats (but remember to mind your recipient’s do not wants!). You can also create manips and fanvids for treats.

Please note: Now that AO3 has changed the way that gifting works on the archive, if you wish to be eligible for treats, you need to select the option “Allow anyone to gift me works” under the “Collections, Challenges and Gifts” section of your AO3 preferences.  You must also indicate that you are open to treats in your exchange sign-up.

This is an anonymous exchange: refrain from discussing your assignment in public. After the works are revealed, there will be a one week anon period when the creators remain anonymous before the creator reveals.

If at any point you need to drop out, just click on the “default” button on your AO3 assignment page (https:// archiveofourown. org/users/YOURNAME/assignments); we’ll find a pinch hitter to create a gift for your recipient instead. If you need an extension to finish your gift, contact the mods before the deadline.

After the reveals, comment on your gift.

Most importantly: be excellent to each other!

[scotianostra]

On 26th November 1917 Elsie Inglis, the Scottish nursing pioneer and suffragette, died.

There are very few people who were neither born or died in Scotland that are as highly regarded and respected as Scots, than Elsie Inglis, the only other that springs to mind is Eric Liddell.

Elsie parents were Scots Harriet Lowes Thompson and John Inglis, who worked for the East India Company, when her father retired from his job in 1878 the Inglis family returned to Scotland and settled in Edinburgh.

Having studied medicine at the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women Inglis subsequently established her own medical college. She qualified as a doctor and secured a teaching appointment at the New Hospital for Women.  A keen suffragette Inglis was later to found her own maternity hospital entirely staffed by women.

In 1906 Inglis played a notable role in the establishment of the Scottish Women’s Suffrage Federation.  The outbreak of war in Europe in August 1914 brought about a temporary ceasefire where political - including suffragette - issues were concerned, and Inglis promptly suggested the creation of women’s medical units on the Western Front.

The British government reacted to Inglis’s idea was frowned upon, she was told  “‘my good lady, go home and sit still’. .  Nevertheless a similar offer made directly to the French government was warmly received and Inglis travelled to France within three months of the outbreak of war, with the Abbaye de Royaumont hospital, containing some 200 beds, in place by December 1914. This was later followed by a second hospital at Villers Cotterets in 1917.

Inglis was active in arranging for the despatch of women’s units to other fighting areas aside from the Western Front, the first Scottish Women’s Hospital field unit was formed in December 1914 in a town called Kragujevac in Serbia.others followed  at Salonika, Romania, Malta and Corsica in 1915 and to Russia the following year.

Inglis herself served in Serbia from 1915 until the Serbian government and army withdrew to Corfu ,she had been held prisoner for a period until U.S. diplomatic pressure brought about her release.   Thereafter based in Russia she was taken ill, the government demanded she come home but Elsie refused until the Serbian soldiers were guaranteed safe passage. The boat brought them back to Newcastle and Elsie, who was crippled with illness, could hardly walk as she greeted Serbian soldiers on deck. She was so frail she had to be carried off to a nearby hotel where she died on 26th  November 1917.

Elsie’s body was taken “home” to Edinburgh where it was interned in Dean Cemetery, beforehand it lay in state in St Giles’ Cathedral.  Her funeral there on 29th November was attended by both British and Serbian royalty.

The SWH continued its work for the duration of the war, sending out more units and raising money for the work. Remaining funds were used to establish the Elsie Inglis Memorial Maternity Hospital in Edinburgh in July 1925, it closed in 1988.

There is a Memorial Drinking Fountain “Crkvenac” in Mladenovac, Serbia commemorating her work for the country. A plaque commemorates her at 8 Walker Street, Edinburgh. A portrait of her is included in the mural of heroic women by  Walter P. Starmer at  St Jude’s Church, Hampstead Garden, London. In 1922 a large tablet to her memory (sculpted by  Pilkington Jackson)  was erected in the north aisle of St Giles on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.  

A movie is set to be made of her biography, penned by her sister, Eva called The Woman With the Torch, no date yet about a release, work is ongoing as far as I can see,

Edinburgh is set to have a statue erected to Elsie, it will be the first woman to be commemorated with a statue on the Royal Mile at the site of her hospice on the High Street, which is between the Bridges and The Netherbow.  Unfortunately controversy has meant it has been put on hold after a bitter row about the choice of sculptor.

Anger erupted after the trustees suspended their open call for designs and instead commissioned Stoddart, the King’s sculptor in ordinary in Scotland. 

In late September, they tweeted: “The call to artists has been suspended indefinitely owing to considerations that have been brought to the attention of the trustees in recent weeks. This information has therefore rendered the brief as published suboptimal to ensure the successful outcome of the project at design scheduling and budgetary levels.”

The furore has brought fresh attention to the absence of female statuary in Edinburgh, which has dozens of monuments to male soldiers, kings, intellectuals and physicians. Those include one of Stoddart’s best-known works, a large bronze of the philosopher David Hume outside the high court near St Giles’.

Part of the problem is that some say the statue should be made by a woman, and I agree, why should a woman not get to make a a statue about a woman who did a lot for their rights. Edinburgh should be making a stand on this. 

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Thursday, November 30, 2023

november 17_november 30

THE HOLY MONK LAZARUS THE ICONOGRAPHER OF CONSTANTINOPLE ( 857)

Saint Lazarus the Iconographer lived in Constantinople. He was a priest, led a strict ascetic life and painted holy icons. He fought against all heresy, enduring many afflictions from the Nestorians, Eutychians, and iconoclasts. Under the iconoclast emperor Theophilus (829-842), he was arrested and after cruel tortures, thrown into prison. Theophilus ordered horseshoes to be placed in a fire until they glowed red with the heat. Then they were put upon the iconographer’s hands, because he dared to paint icons of Christ and the saints. He was saved from execution by the intervention of the empress Theodora.

Saint Lazarus died in the year 857 while returning from Rome, where he had been sent in a delegation on church matters to Pope Benedict III (855-858). His remains were taken to Constantinople and buried in the church of Saint Evandrus.

Source: Orthodox Church in America

SAINT SEBASTIAN OF JACKSON AND SAN FRANCISCO (Serbia_1940)

Our venerable father Sebastian Dabovich (now St. Sebastian of Jackson and San Francisco) was a prominent Serbian priest in the Russian Mission in America in the 1890s and early 1900s. He founded numerous churches and was the author of several books. He died in Serbia in 1940 and was glorified as a saint on May 29th, 2015.

Born John Dabovich (Jovan Dabović) in San Francisco, California on June 21, 1863, to Serbian immigrant parents from Sassovae, Serbia, Archimandrite Sebastian grew up with the church in San Francisco where his parents operated a store. After finishing high school he served his parish as a reader and teacher.

In 1884, he was assigned to assist at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Sitka, Alaska before he was sent to Russia to prepare for a life as a missionary priest. After three years of study at the St. Petersburg and Kiev Theological Academies, John was tonsured a monk in 1887 with the name Sebastian and ordained a deacon. Following his ordination, Dn. Sebastian returned to San Francisco where he served as deacon at the San Francisco cathedral. He also taught at the pastoral school in San Francisco.

As more Serbians emigrated to the United States, Abp. Tikhon asked Fr. Sebastian to lead a Serbian Mission in the North American diocese. With his appointment to head the mission, Abp. Tikhon elevated Fr. Sebastian to archimandrite on August 15, 1905. For the next five years Archim. Sebastian led the Serbian Mission from its center at the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church in Chicago, Illinois, where he was the parish priest.

In 1910, Fr. Sebastian asked for a release from the Serbian mission so that he could return to missionary work. Then in 1913, he joined the faculty of the newly opened St. Platon Seminary in Tenafly, New Jersey. Shortly thereafter feeling a call to service the church in his ancestral Serbia, Fr. Sebastian asked for a release from the American Mission. He went on to serve as a chaplain in the Serbian army in the Balkan Wars and World War I. Other than for brief visits to the United States in 1915 and 1917, Fr. Sebastian spent the rest of his life serving the Church of Yugoslavia.

Archim. Sebastian reposed in Yugoslavia on November 30, 1940, and was buried at the Monastery of Zicha. In 2007, his remains were disinterred and brought back to the cemetery at St. Sava Church in Jackson, California for reburial.

Source: Saint of North America

1 TIMOTHY 3:1-13

1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he wants a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those outside, lest he fall into reproach and the devil's snare. 8 Likewise, deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given too much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

LUKE 16:1-9

1 He also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. 2 So he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.' 3 Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.' 5 So he called every one of his master's debtors to him, and said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' 6 And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' So he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.' 7 Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' So he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.' 8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. 9 And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.

Commentary of the Church's Father: Augustine of Hippo AD 430. Mammon is the Hebrew word for “riches,” just as in Punic the word for “profit” is mammon. What are we to do? What did the Lord command? “Make yourselves friends with the mammon of iniquity, so that they too, when you begin to fail, may receive you into eternal shelters.” It is easy, of course, to understand that we must give alms and a helping hand to the needy, because Christ receives it in them…. We can understand that we have to give alms and that we must not really pick and choose to whom we give them, because we are unable to sift through people’s hearts. When you give alms to all different types of people, then you will reach a few who deserve them. You are hospitable, and you keep your house ready for strangers. Let in the unworthy, in case the worthy might be excluded. You cannot be a judge and sifter of hearts.

[nightsidewrestling]

D.U.D.E Part 12 - Unpretty (Set in 2020)

Note: This is set in a universe where Men VS Women / Intergender matches can happen.

Chapter 1: here Chapter 2: here Chapter 3: here Chapter 4: here Chapter 5: here Chapter 6: here Chapter 7: here Chapter 8: here Chapter 9: here Chapter 10: here Chapter 11: here

Tags: @piratewithvigor @tantamount-treason @thedollmaker16 @janetreader

Around 2000 Words. 18+ in places (those chapters will be marked as 'Mature / sexual content' just to be safe). Please inform me if you wish to be tagged or untagged from posts. If the text is in italics and orange it's Kirby's inner monologue. If the text is coloured but not in italics, it's either dialogue or a P.O.V change (P.O.V changes will be in bold and translated dialogue will appear in square [ ] brackets), Key below. Quick note on Geia's text colour: Yes I do know that as Greed she should be in yellow but I decided to colour the men's dialogue yellow so Geia was changed to be pink like the other women in the story outside of the main 8.

The Main 8: Damo - Bio. Vi - Bio. Billie - Bio. Geia - Bio. Kirby - Bio. Honey - Bio. Eli - Bio. Sara - Bio.

Gluttony's P.O.V:

Kirby is woken up by a text from Eddie the following morning (Saturday 29th August), 'Get dressed, I'm taking you out for coffee'. Kirby sighs as she gets up, getting dressed, and walking into the bathroom. She looks in the mirror at herself and hides her face in her hands. Why is Eddie with me? He's so handsome and I'm so ugly. I hate this fucking stupid orange ponytail, and these scars on my face, no amount of foundation can cover them. She wipes the tears from her eyes and splashes her face with water, drying off and doing her make-up, making sure she looks like she was never crying. She walks out of the bathroom and around the house, looking for Eddie. She finds him on the back patio, smoking a cigarette, scrolling through something on his phone. she takes a deep breath and double checks her outfit.

"Hey King, what are you doing?" She asks as she walks up, standing next to him.

"I'm just lookin' through..." Eddie looks over at Kirby, "Well, hello Ma, you come here often?"

"What? Eddie, we live together."

Eddie chuckles softly, "babe, it's a pick-up line."

"Oh... right, yes, I do come here often." She chuckles weakly.

Eddie finishes his cigarette, putting his arms around Kirby's waist and kissing her gently, the look in his eyes going from loving to concerned, "Kirby, is everythin' okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine." She whispers, barely loud enough to hear.

"No, no, I don't believe ya. What's wrong?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Tell me, I don't want you being upset."

"Eddie, am I pretty?" She asks, her voice trembling, tears in her eyes.

"Are you pretty? No. Are ya fuckin' stunnin' and gorgeous? Hell fuckin' yeah."

"I don't feel pretty..."

"You don't think you're pretty, 'cause you're not someone you'd be into. I am your type, right?"

"Yeah, I love you." She nods softly.

"You are my woman, I am your man. You don't have to love how you look, just be comfortable with who you are. I'll love your body, your mind, all of ya. You just stay with me, and let me love you,I'll be the one who adores you... Now smile, ya got me emotional." Eddie murmurs, wiping his eyes with his shirt.

Kirby buries her head in Eddie's neck, letting her sadness leave her body before pulling away, "I'm gonna go do my make-up again."

"This time around, take it all off, I wanna see my girl in her natural state."

"Yes sir, Mr Kingston." She jokes softly.

When Kirby returns from the bathroom, Eddie's got one of his hoodies and her pair of timbs in his hands, he nearly drops the items when he sees her.

"Woah, how the fuck do you go from a natural ten to a fuckin' nine?"

"Do you prefer the lack of makeup?"

"Prefer it? If I hadn't decided to take you out today, I'd be fuckin' ya 'till ya can't walk. Why do you cover up all of these beauty marks? And the freckles on your shoulders, why do you cover those up?"

"You are paying extra attention to detail?" She asks softly.

"Well, yeah, now I can see the details clearly. I'm not drunk or tired, or horny as fuck," He whispers, pulling her into a gentle kiss, "put these on, and we'll head out."

"One of your hoodies? I thought you didn't like anyone toughing your stuff."

"You said you like how I smell, so I thought this would be perfect, I have plenty more."

Kirby takes in the smell as she puts the hoodie on, biting her lip to stop herself from moaning, her senses full of Eddie's presence. It takes her a moment to remember how to tie her shoelaces, her mind still on Eddie. He wraps his arms around her waist from behind, kissing her neck.

Eddie spends the rest of the day, and the following three days, showing Kirby around Yonkers. Kirby arranges their flight and hotel, the couple flying back to Jacksonville, Florida on the 1st of September. Eddie and Kirby go right to bed after flying in, waking up on the 2nd in a mess of limbs.

"Morning, Kingy." Kirby murmurs as she wakes up.

"Good mornin', gorgeous." Eddie grumbles, pulling Kirby on top of him and into a lazy 'Good Morning' kiss.

"You want me to get you a coffee, Mr Loverman?"

"If you wouldn't mind, Doll, can ya pick me up a pack of-"

Kirby kisses Eddie softly, "I can get ya a pack of cigarettes, don't worry."

"You're such an angel." He whispers, resting his hands on her ass, grinding his groin against hers.

"Eddie, no, I have things to do today."

"Like what, what's more important than sex wit' ya fiancé?" He raises an eyebrow.

"Uhm, going to the gym, writing emails to people, doing some shopping for the house."

"Doin' some shopping for the house?"

"I'm not living in a blank white box forever, Eddie."

Eddie reluctantly lets Kirby get up, watching as she does her morning routine. Kirby gets dressed in front of him, in a short, mid-thigh tartan skit, a comfy orange sweater and a black button-up jacket.

"You look so fuckin' cute. Don't ruin it with makeup." Eddie half-groans half-yawns.

"Fine, I'll just put my mask and my timbs on, I was gonna put lipstick on, but nope, it's fine."

"A'ight, I get it. You can put some, and I mean some, makeup on."

Kirby blows a kiss to Eddie, grapping a lipstick from her bag, going back into the bathroom. She returns with her lips now a deep, chocolatey, shade of brown, she puts her mask and timbs on, standing up and being pulled into a hug by Eddie.

"I love ya, I put the can of mace in your bag, stay safe. Remember, two coffees, a pack of cigarettes, and maybe a box of con-"

Kirby kisses Eddie to shut him up, "I'm not getting condoms, you can survive without sex for a couple days."

"How am I supposed to do that, when you look so sexy?"

"Either get yourself off, or suffer. I'm not in the mood right now, Eddie."

"A'ight Ma, I'll suffer with my sexy-ass fiancée, bein' really fuckin' hot, not lettin' me rock her body." Eddie grumbles.

Kirby shakes her head, kissing Eddie one final time, grabbing her purse and leaving the room. She grabs Eddie's cigarettes first, also grabbing a box of nicotine patches, then getting him the first energy drink can she sees, paying for those items and heading to the local café. She pulls out her phone and calls Eddie.

"Hey beautiful, you at that café ya like?"

"Yeah, waiting for you, gonna get some work done while I wait. I got us some breakfast and coffee."

"I'll be there in a couple minutes, gotta call Ma first, tell her we got here okay."

"Tell Ruthie I say hi, and ask her to send me that really cute picture of you, Eric and Evan."

Eddie chuckles, "Okay, will do. Love ya, my gorgeous angel, see ya soon."

"Bye, handsome." She whispers as she hangs up, getting out her laptop and starting to work.

Around five minutes later, Eddie shows up carrying both his own and her gym bags. He sits across from her and sips his coffee, snapping his in front of her face to get her attention.

"Stop it," she grumbles, "I can't remember if Mike still has my posters or not. Fuck it, I'll call him later and ask."

"Hey Princess." Eddie smirks when Kirby looks at him.

"I got you some nicotine patches, and an energy drink." She murmurs, passing him the stuff she bought him.

"Thanks, I owe ya one."

"All you owe me is a weekend in Wales together."

"Deal, I'll give you a whole month in Wales if you want."

"As if either of us is gonna take a whole month off."

"You took a year off." He teases softly.

"For medical reasons." Kirby sticks her tongue out at Eddie.

Eddie chuckles, happily digging into the French toast Kirby bought him watching as Kirby works. Every so often she looks at him and sticks her tongue out, Eddie does the same in return, making each other smile softly. They leave after Eddie finishes his breakfast, heading to the gym and training with each other. After their workout, Kirby heads back to the hotel and Eddie heads off to the arena. She continues doing her work, going down her to-do list and crossing things off.

Kirby wakes up to the sound of the hotel room door opening, she checks the time on her phone '00:13 Wednesday, 3rd September' she looks over at the door and the shape in the doorway.

"Eddie?"

"Shit, I didn't mean to wake ya." Eddie whispers, closing the door behind himself.

"What kind of time do you call this?"

"'I should have called my girl and told her I'll be late' time?" He suggests.

"Yeah, a call or text would've been nice."

"I went out for drinks with Penta and lost track of time."

"You went out for drinks and didn't think to call me?" She raises an eyebrow in confusion.

Eddie gets undresses, only leaving on his white tank-top, and climbs into the bed next to Kirby. He smirks when he sees the underwear she has on, a see-through black lingerie set with a gap over her groin.

He pulls her onto his lap, kissing her deeply and slipping his tongue into her mouth, grinding his groin against hers.

"Were ya waiting for me?" He asks, whispering in her ear.

"I will always wait for you, Eddie, I even went out and got a box of condoms for you."

Eddie growls as he kisses Kirby roughly, pulling away to search for the box, slipping on a condom before sliding into Kirby. He shifts their position so he can pound her into the bed, growling as he makes her moan.

"So fuckin' pretty, every little thing about ya is heavenly, ya my little piece of heaven." He grunts watching as Kirby cums, continuing to pound into her.

"Oh fuck, Eddie." She whispers breathlessly.

"You may think ya ugly, but I see how pretty, not even pretty, how fuckin' hot you are." Eddie inhales sharply as he cums, sending Kirby over the edge for the second time, he pulls out and kisses her deeply.

"Eddie, Papi?"

"What's up, beautiful?"

"Do you wanna actually, you know, go through with your end of the deal?" She asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

Eddie raises an eyebrow and smirks, "oh fuck yes."

Kirby's jaw drops slightly as she watches Eddie, moving at the quickest pace she's ever seen him at, chuck the condom in the bin and rush to pin Kirby to the bed.

"Woah, Eddie, slow and sensual. It's making a baby, not a fucking race."

Eddie rolls his eyes but does slow his pace, making out with Kirby as he makes love to her. He manages to last three minutes, finally cumming with a guttural growl.

"You truly are the sexiest man alive." Kirby whispers.

"You wanna go shower together?"

Kirby nods and lets Eddie lead her to the shower to freshen up, they fall asleep next to each other.

When Kirby wakes up later that morning, there's a 'to-go' cup of coffee on her bedside table, Eddie's left her a note on his pillow, she reads it and smiles.

'Gone to get us breakfast. If Moxley calls tell him to go fuck himself, he'll know why. You are the prettiest woman in the world. Never forget how much I love you. P.S I'm sorry if the coffee is cold when you wake up.'

Kirby drinks her coffee and does her morning routine, getting dressed in an all black outfit, plain black crop-top, black jeans, plain black dress shirt, her black timbs and a couple black bracelets. She smiles when the door opens, the smile quickly fading from her face.

[anxious-ace]

I found something on the Johnny Ghost wiki:

"Johnny Ghost's quarter birthday is Nov 29th, making his canon birthday supposedly August 29th."  I was going to have it where he was born on Halloween which allowed for "the gateway between him and the other side" to open, well his mom did hold a seance when he was 3 (this is in EI) so that could've opened it.

The same wiki said that "Ironically, Ghost is half-ghost, or at least has ghost-like abilities" and that "Johnny seems to exhibit supernatural abilities, such as speaking ghost languages and creating weapons from his mind. During his time as a puppet, Ghost gained the powers to respawn and levitate." as well as "In the GMod DORITOS MOD, Jordan stated that Johnny is actually part-ghost."

This just adds to the whole "him being the gateway" thing.

(He also has a fear of birds, jumping, and old men according to the same wiki page)

[darkleysgarden]

A Drunken Mistake

Written August 29th (Posted November 12th)

Warnings: alcohol, suggestive themes (making out and referenced sex)

Ship: Solodeus

Type: Angst | Hurt/Comfort | Fluff

Words: 1632

Summary: When drunk, Asmodeus and Solomon get into a bad argument.

After going to Satan, he convinces Asmo to try and resolve the misunderstanding.

Fluff ensues.

How could this happen?

What had he done to make things turn out like this?

A mistake. A stupid mistake at that.

He'd invited Solomon out to a party. One of the biggest ones of the year! It was supposed to be fun. It wasn't supposed to turn out like this.

"You act like you don't even love me!" He admitted in a slurred voice, sobs breaking through his words.

Solomon scoffed, "What would even make you think that? I do plenty for you! You must be out of your mind if you think that it isn't enough!"

Another sob ripped through him, "And what is it that you do? Show up once every three months just to fuck me? If I didn't know better I'd shove you into the same space as every other greedy asshole who wanted me for my body!"

The sorcerer looked at him like he was the stupidest being to ever live, "You know what? Showing up here tonight was a mistake. Goodbye, Asmodeus."

Before leaving the room they'd both went off to together, Solomon had said his full name.

They practically only ever used terms on endearment for eachother! And if it was ever their name it would be a shortened version of it. Because their relationship was cute and cheesy and stupid and so them.

Maybe he was just overreacting. It wasn't that big of a deal. Just his name.

How did that fight even start anyway?

They'd both gotten way too drunk that night. Completely wobbly and over the top.

He retched pathetically into the toilet. Tears laced with mascara combining with the liquid.

He'd become a complete mess after their fight.

Could he blame it on stupidity? Being an emotional drunk? The longing feeling that constantly told him he needed to be there with Solomon? But no, he was busy. He can't see you Asmo! Even if it's been four months. Just shut up and be patient. It will be fine.

Asmo had said that he didn't want to have sex that night, much to Solomon's confusion. He'd had questioned that were concerned because that was so unlike him. Usually he'd be begging for it.

It was concern. But of course, in his drunken state, he took offense to the concern and had to cause a fight.

A pathetic wail came from him. A sound he didn't even know he was capable of making.

Mammon had come in at some point, holding back his hair, wiping away his tears and mascara, cuddling him close to his warmth. All things Solomon should've been doing with him.

After much protest from him, Mammon got him into the car and home.

Which lead him to where he was now, laying in bed, still in those too tight clothes from the night before.

Mammon had tried to change him, but Asmo insisted he leave him be.

He felt completely numb.

Should he do something? Probably.

But part of him was scared. Scared that Solomon was still mad. That he wasn't ever going to forgive him for the fight. Break up with him like many in the past did after he rejected sex.

He wouldn't break up with him, though..........right?

No, he would never. Solomon saw him for more than his body. He was different!

In that moment, the line blurred.

He thought every ex had been 'different'. Was he wrong about Solomon? He couldn't be! But.... he wasn't sure.

In his moment of vulnerability, he got up. He needed to talk to Satan.

He always relies on his older brother in any sort of problem. That was normal. Now wouldn't be any different.

And Satan was smart! He'd know what to do!

Before leaving, he still made sure to fix up his outfit and makeup.

Even if it was just Satan, he shouldn't underperform. Nobody liked it when he did so. He can't be anything less than perfect. No, he isn't overthinking this! Last night was a clear example. Asmo didn't fill Solomon's needs and look where that got him.

He can't say that it's just Satan, because he had said that it was just Solomon before too. He never knew who he could trust. Hell, could he even trust himself?

Once he looked delightfully perfect again, he stepped out of his room. He gripped his arms tightly as he pulled the door shut. With slow cautious steps, he stopped in front of the fourth born's room.

He gave one knock, which was more than his usual, before barging in immediately, not even waiting for a reply.

Satan looked up, confusion evident on his face. He was half sitting, half laying on his bed, a book in his hand.

Asmodeus rushed over, throwing himself into Satan's arms. Tears welled up, but he didn't let them fall.

The fourth born returned his hug, hand running through his hair. He clearly realized that Asmo was upset, and was going to help his younger brother, "Asmo, what happened?"

The dam cracked, but didn't break, "Oh Satan it was horrible! It was just terrible! Everything went wrong in all the worst ways! I didn't know what to do! And then we started yelling! Why did we start yelling? And then he left! I don't know what to do! Can I trust him? Can I even trust myself!?"

Satan whispered soothing words to help calm his breathing, then asking, "Did you and Solomon fight?"

He didn't know exactly what word caused it. Whether it was the mention of Solomon, or the fight. But, as soon as Satan finished his sentence, he started to sob.

Asmo didn't know how much time had passed. Whether it had been a few minutes, or a few hours.

He stayed cuddled in his arms in a way that made him long for his boyfriend once again.

Eventually, Satan spoke again, "I'm sure this is just a big misunderstanding. I know Solomon well, and I'm sure that he didn't want to hurt you in anyway. He was just being drunk and stupid. I think you should just go and talk to him. Though, if you talk to him and he makes you sad again, let him know that I will not hesitate to f-"

Asmo cut him off, "Okay! Okay! I get it! Please don't kill my boyfriend!"

Satan scoffed, "I make no promises."

They sat there in a peaceful silence. Asmo thinking about what the blonde had said. Maybe he should just go talk to him.

Like he said, it was Solomon. And he's the smartest idiot he knew!

○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○

Still in the same clothes as last night, Asmo stood in front of the Purgatory Hall. He still had some mascara stained on his face, as he had failed to wipe it off fully. And his eyes were red and puffy, tear tracks still evident.

He knocked a small tune, pulling his hand down nervously.

Every second that passed without an answer made him want to go back home and cry a bit more.

As he was about to leave, the door opened. There stood Simeon, who had a frown on his face. The frown only worsened when he saw Asmo's current condition. He seemed to understand immediately what was wrong, "Solomon is in his room. Nasty hangover and such."

The words were laced with sadness that made Asmo frown.

Simeon stepped aside, allowing him to enter. He wasted no time, instantly making his way to the sorcerer's room.

With no knock, he entered. Solomon groaned at the small flash of light made before he closed it, "Simeon, I told you to leave me alone."

Asmo stood awkwardly, "Guess again....."

At the sound of his voice, Solomon darted up, "Asmo! I am so so so sorry! I'm stupid and said stupid things and didn't mean any of it!"

A smile made its way onto his face, "Funny, I was gonna say the same thing."

He sat on Solomon's bed, holding out his arms. The white haired man greedily accepted, "Sol, I know you're busy. It was selfish of me to think you should put me above your work."

Solomon's grip tightened, "No, you were right. I never even see you anymore. I shouldn't be getting so absorbed into other things and just completely ignore you."

He grinned, "I guess we were both idiots then, huh?"

Solomon laughed, smiling back up at him, "I guess so."

Their lips locked in the same way as always. They had become so accustomed to eachother, mouths moving accordingly.

Asmo pushed himself harder against Solomon, focusing on nothing else but him.

Solomon bit his lip, causing him to open his mouth wider, accepting his tongue against his own.

Just as Asmo was about to pin him down, Solomon gently pushed him away, "As much as I love you, we shouldn't go that far today. Even if you didn't mean it, I don't want you thinking I only want you for sex. Your cuddles and love are amazing too. Plus, I have a pounding headache right now."

He giggled at the last statement, pulling Solomon into a lying position. He buried his head against the younger's chest, fluffy hair bunching up against him.

The sorcerer kissed his forehead, "If you want we can cuddle all day just like this. Maybe even turn on a movie. And I think Luke was even planning on making that dessert you liked."

Asmo perked up, "Blood macarons?"

"Mhm," Solomon kissed the tip of his nose.

He curled against him once again, letting out a sigh.

Why did he think this would be hard? It was Solomon, after all. They were both drunk and stupid.

Solomon was an idiot.

But admittedly, so was he.

Sleep started to overtake him as he cuddled closer.

Damn were they both idiots.

[upsidedownism]

[ david castañeda | non-binary | he/they | thirty-four ] —— it’s just another typical week in hawkins i guess — isn’t that right, elias soto? huh, guess they can’t hear me over hazy shade of winter by the bangles playing on their walkman, but it looks like they’re headed to work as an investigative journalist. did you know elias has been in hawkins for eight years? yeah, they’ve been described as a bit hard-hearted, but i suppose them also being persevering outweighs the negative. i’ve also heard people say they remind them of the smell of ash never leaving your body no matter how hard you scrub, a cork board full of red string of a town that feels so unfamiliar to you, too many stories of people lost that won’t ever leave your dreams, an anger that you don’t know what to do with, and leaving no stone unturned looking for your daughter… however, that could just be this weeks newest rumor.

character inspos: joel (the last of us), hopper/joyce (stranger things), evelyn wang (everything everywhere all at once), shawn hunter (boy meets world), fiona gallagher (shameless), alex karev (greys anatomy), wanda maximoff (wandavision/mcu), buffy summers (buffy the vampire slayer)

full name:  elias soto nickname(s): eli name meaning: the lord is my god age:  thirty-four date of birth:  august 29th place of birth:  cloudcroft, new mexico current location:  hawkins, indiana gender: non-binary pronouns: he/they religion: grew up catholic, agnostic / atheist leaning occupation:  still doing volunteer work, freelance investigative journalism education level: has a degree in journalism financial status: honestly wouldn’t mind a pay raise spoken languages: spanish, english voiceclaim: david castañeda

tws: familial trauma non-descriptive, mentions of grief, missing child (presumed dead)

───  ➤ elias grew up in small town in new mexico with a lot of dreams for a kid who’s population was dismal, they’re one of four boys, the second oldest and probably the biggest disappointment if you were to ask his parents of list of accomplishments. while his older brother was the golden child elias seemed to struggle when it came to school, not one to be afraid to throw a fist or say a few choice words, he was always getting in trouble. 

───  ➤ his parents were strict on their kids and elias was seventeen when he got emancipated, and lived with his best friend at the time. he had contact with his brothers though because of his parents it was a very complicated relationship and the most surprising twist of it all was his older brother being the one to reach out to him when he found out what happened. 

───  ➤ his brother had helped him under the table financially with stuff, especially when it came to going to college elias knowing that he could never prosper here and needed to get out and leave the state and start somewhere new. there was a bond between the two of being the eldest, the pressure their family put on them on top of the generational trauma of their parents before them was too much and their brother knew that all too well and elias still swears that one day they’ll pay their brother back for everything he’s given him. 

───  ➤ he’s currently the only family member that he keeps in contact with though now his brother has created a family of his own and they’re very happy and elias just used to bring a lot of bad shit into everyone’s lives (his mother often telling him that he was cursed, though he would never take this to heart until much later) 

───  ➤ after a lot of poor decisions as a young adult elias reached rock bottom and got his shit together and got accepted to an out of state school and finally started to thrive. they knew that if they ever wanted to see a better ending then they needed to stick with it. 

───  ➤  he met the love of his life and they fell in love and had their daughter natalia and moved to hawkins to be closer to his partners family. 

───  ➤ life was going pretty good for elias , while he and his partner had split up they still co-parented natty, and elias had always been doing some odd job around town while doing his freelancing. though everything changed when the earthquake happened. 

───  ➤ natalia and elias were separated that night, she had been with her mom and elias had been at the trailer parks heading to bed when it hit. natalia was never found again. and he’s been looking for her ever since even though he knows deep down in his heart that she’s probably dead. ever since the earthquake elias has been doing his best to make sure the stories of those forgotten were getting out while trying to understand how a 7.4 magnitude hit hawkins like that and why all the years that he’s been in this town something has always seemed off. he would have never labeled himself as a conspiracist but something isn’t adding up and he wants to know what really happened to his daughter. 

───  ➤ elias pretty much went back in terms of his progress, became someone very unrecognisable and grief stricken and did just about anything that he could to find natty. 

───  ➤ their brother worried about them so much so that he came down to help make sense of it all but eventually elias had thrown him out because that’s what happens when someone tries to help elias he snaps because he’s never really coped well to begin with. he’s still strained with his brother to this day and desperately wants to fix that relationship but doesn’t know how to he’s said things that he regrets out of rage) 

───  ➤ they’re not doing well, but pretty much have an open door rule to any kids that he might have adopted throughout the years as a pseudo-parent. he still volunteers with the rebuild but they don’t recognize themselves anymore.

[apparitionisms]

ELIAS SOTO.

good morning, deadwood, saul coming through your radios. we’ve got bzzz something interesting today! let’s all say hello to ELIAS SOTO, where are you listening today, hm? probably the same place you always do. yeah, i know all about you: 34 years old, a deadwood TRANSPLANT, a PARK RANGER, your favorite song is HAZY SHADE OF WINTER BY THE BANGLES. i’ll play that next, just for you, how’s about that? i’m not meant to show preferential treatment but i feel like i really know you. i know you can be DETERMINED and RESOURCEFUL, although folks say you can also be SKEPTIC and COLD. but who are any of us to judge, ELIAS? we all have our bad days. don’t you worry about a thing, let’s get your song rolling early. here it goes, enjoy! 

full name:  elias soto nickname(s): eli name meaning: the lord is my god age:  thirty-four date of birth:  august 29th place of birth: deadwood, washington current location: deadwood, washington gender: non-binary pronouns: he/they religion: grew up catholic, agnostic / atheist leaning occupation: was a journalist, did freelancing when natalia was born, currently a park ranger  education level: has a degree in journalism financial status: honestly wouldn’t mind a pay raise spoken languages: english, spanish voiceclaim: david castañeda

inspos: joel (the last of us), hopper/joyce (stranger things), evelyn wang (everything everywhere all at once), shawn hunter (boy meets world), fiona gallagher (shameless), alex karev (greys anatomy), wanda maximoff (wandavision/mcu), buffy summers (buffy the vampire slayer)

BIOGRAPHY / HEADCANONS. 

tw: familial trauma non descriptive, mentions of grief, missing child 

───  ➤ elias grew up in small town in new mexico with a lot of dreams for a kid who’s population was dismal, they’re one of four boys, the second oldest and probably the biggest disappointment if you were to ask his parents of list of accomplishments. while his older brother was the golden child elias seemed to struggle when it came to school, not one to be afraid to throw a fist or say a few choice words, he was always getting in trouble. 

───  ➤ his parents were strict on their kids and elias was seventeen when he got emancipated, and lived with his best friend at the time. he had contact with his brothers though because of his parents it was a very complicated relationship and the most surprising twist of it all was his older brother being the one to reach out to him when he found out what happened. 

───  ➤ his brother had helped him under the table financially with stuff, especially when it came to going to college elias knowing that he could never prosper here and needed to get out and leave the state and start somewhere new. there was a bond between the two of being the eldest, the pressure their family put on them on top of the generational trauma of their parents before them was too much and their brother knew that all too well and elias still swears that one day they’ll pay their brother back for everything he’s given him. 

───  ➤ he’s currently the only family member that he keeps in contact with though now his brother has created a family of his own and they’re very happy and elias just used to bring a lot of bad shit into everyone’s lives (his mother often telling him that he was cursed, though he would never take this to heart until much later) 

───  ➤ after a lot of poor decisions as a young adult elias reached rock bottom and got his shit together and got accepted to an out of state school and finally started to thrive. they knew that if they ever wanted to see a better ending then they needed to stick with it. 

───  ➤ keeping this part about their partner brief since i haven’t plotted with them yet but he met the love of his life and they fell in love and had their daughter natalia and moved to deadwood to be closer to his partners family (as stated in the wc) 

───  ➤ when natalia went missing it was probably the worst part of his life considering how he thought natalia was the one to break the curse that he thought he had hanging over his head. she was everything that was good and kind, empathetic and open to anything and everyone, and he doesn’t know if this is what made her a target for her to disappear but elias pretty much went back in terms of his progress, became someone very unrecognisable and grief stricken and did just about anything that he could to find natty. 

───  ➤ their brother worried about them so much so that he came down to help make sense of it all but eventually elias had thrown him out because that’s what happens when someone tries to help elias he snaps because he’s never really coped well to begin with. he’s still strained with his brother to this day and desperately wants to fix that relationship but doesn’t know how to he’s said things that he regrets out of rage) 

───  ➤ when natalia came back, she came back…. different. elias had once written in his journal that it was like his kid was a haunted house. a ghost of who she used to be, even if there are sometimes when she comes back and he doesn’t even get to enjoy it while it’s happening because he’s too busy trying to understand where she went. she sleep walks, he once found her in the forest during one of his shifts which fucking terrified him. she sees things and understands (even if they don’t), a lot of stuff that their daughter says matches a lot of the folklore of the town and he’s been tempted to take her and move them out but he knows that whatever happened to his kid is still happening to people in this town and now he wants to figure out the why. 

───  ➤  he’s a park ranger still even after natalia, strange things have been happening lately and he’s not even close to understanding them but he wants to so no one else has to go through the grief like he did. 

───  ➤ they might have seen something in the forest. but they’ll deny it. 

[weepingpiratesong]

This weekend was beyond rough. After being married for 14 years with the person who separated from me back on the 29th of August. Had an affair with a convicted child molester, and yes we do have two kids, and no she didn't know the truth about him. She came to and wanted to try and reconcile a little over a month after it started. We honestly started off way to fast. While still living in different houses we started sleeping together again and trying to talk out our issues of the past. It was so intense, full of passion and emotion. I was more devoted to her than ever before. it not only felt like we had turned the corner, but that our relationship would be stronger than ever. But then she stated that when she leaves to go back to her fathers with the kids, she starts to stress and worry that everything that happened in the past will happen again and she will end up hurt. I worked on myself non stop when the separation started because i hated who i allowed myself to become. I liar, manipulator, controller, self serving. I needed to change for myself, my wife, and my children. This weekend she came to me and stated that she cant try anymore that everything is just overwhelming. Dealing with two kids, a full time job, and a side business. She didn't have the time to dedicate to focusing on thinking about "us". I asked her if this is what she really wanted. She responded that its not what she wants it's what she needs. "I need this" she said. I was crushed. I asked if that meant that she needed this to go all the way through to divorce. She replied that she didn't know. It was so hard to see her the next day on Sunday with the kids. She had brought them over to carve pumpkins and have dinner together. It was hard to not be able to say the words I Love You, or just give her a simple kiss. To try and act as though she is just a friend and nothing more. She seemed to be able to do it so easily. Not faltering at all. I still hope and pray that she will find her way back to me, and heal our family. I pray for it every night, I think non stop about it. My mind and heart will not let me move on, or let her go. I do want her to be happy no matter what though even if it is not with me. But i cant give up on hope.

[shyrule]

you know what i don’t even think i’ll be upset when/if twilight dies like i’ve been shitposting about it for so long that i am fully desensitised to the idea AND disregarding canon is my second favourite hobby so like be prepared for a whole lot MORE shitposting when it does eventually happen

[aggressivelymediocre-net]

29th August, 2023

29th August, 2023

After the utter demolition of my previous relationship, I’ve been trying to approach life differently in a lot of ways. The reason for this being that i want to get out of my former “routine” (or lack there of) and actually establish new, healthy, habits and interests. So I’ve started listening to music I normally wouldn’t listen to, watching TV shows or movies that are either new to me, or where brought into my life before my previous partner entered into it.

The things that we did, that we liked, that we had in common or shared seem so tainted now; after the way you’ve handled yourself during this entire ordeal. I also have started to reclaim things that she may have thought were “ours” but in reality, were established long before our relationship, i.e.: certain music/bands, movies, etc. I’ve been able to do this surprisingly quickly in comparison to my past long-term relationships. I’m not certain if this says something about me growing, and being able to separate things mentally; or, if it says more about you than it does about me.

So, I’ve started to listen to new music (lookin at you Taylor Swift, who admittedly, is great!), find new hobbies and activities, search new television or movie content out.

One MAJOR thing i did, which surprises even myself, is I removed all the photos of my ex fiancé from my all of my devices ‘photo’ app, so as they wont show up in any “memories” or similar things created by Apple using photos of places/people.

I also burned a heart-shaped lavender wreath her and I bought at a lavender farm in Washington (state), while we were on a two-week roadtrip throughout the western United States in a camper van. It was pure catharsis.. Now to only get the same motivation to burn all of her notes, letters, and other various correspondence from her.. it’ll be a good day.

During COVID-19, a lot of Telehealth, and mindfulness applications got a lot of press because everyone was so fucking depressed and sad at the world coming to a halt. So I’ve been exposed to mindfulness for a while, trying to live in the moment and let things come, accept them, and let them go. It really helps with my anxiety and my incessant need to plan for every situation, and have contingencies available just in case. Letting go is very hard for me, but its also incredibly freeing.

Something I’ve noticed, as we approach two months separated (boy how time flies when you’re homeless and despondent), its that if i let my mind wander, as it normally does, somehow it always finds it way to you, to us, to what could’ve and would’ve been had we been strong enough to hold on while the tempest passes. So i can’t escape you there.. If i am mindful, take things in, accept them, and let them go, I am free for a few blissful moments, but still, SOMEHOW, someway, you always find your way into my thoughts. It’s like a disease it seems.

[pingxie-exchange]

Hi and welcome to the Pingxie Exchange: a fic & art exchange about the Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling pairing! In this exchange, participants will be anonymously matched to create gifts for one another during a five week creation period. The gifts will be revealed on August 17th: the day Wu Xie welcomed Xiaoge back after his 10-year-long absence behind the Bronze Gate. This exchange is open to all the DMBJ canons (adaptations featuring Wu Xie or Xiaoge and the original novels). It will take place on AO3, so you need an AO3 account to participate–if you don’t have one, you can request it here; if there isn’t enough time, no worries - contact the mods at pingxie-exchange@hotmail.com, on DreamWidth, or on tumblr, and we can send you an invitation! Please read this post carefully before signing up.

Schedule

Sign-ups open: June 18th Sign-ups end: June 28th 11:59 PM Anywhere On Earth (what time is it for me?) Matching: June 29th - July 5th Assignments out: no later than 6th July Assignments due: August 10th 11:59 PM Anywhere On Earth (what time is it for me?) Gift reveals: August 17th Creator reveals and treats deadline: August 24th

Guidelines

This is a ship exchange: as such, all the works created for this event must be focused on Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling. Works with threesomes/moresomes or other pairings involving Wu Xie and/or Zhang Qiling are not appropriate for this exchange, but background ships of other characters are fine!

You will be expected to create a gift matching your recipient’s request. Filling any specifying prompts is not obligatory, but try to create something you honestly think your recipient will enjoy!

You must not include anything stated as “do not want” in your recipient’s sign-up.

The minimum requirements for the gifts are 300 words for fic or one sketch on unlined paper for art (traditional or digital; no manips).

After the matching is done, all the requests will be made visible to everyone to allow for treating! There are no minimum requirements for treats (but remember to mind your recipient’s do not wants!). You can also create manips and fanvids for treats.

Please note: Now that AO3 has changed the way that gifting works on the archive, if you wish to be eligible for treats, you need to select the option “Allow anyone to gift me works” under the “Collections, Challenges and Gifts” section of your AO3 preferences.  You must also indicate that you are open to treats in your exchange sign-up.

This is an anonymous exchange: refrain from discussing your assignment in public. After the works are revealed, there will be a one week anon period when the creators remain anonymous before the creator reveals.

If at any point you need to drop out, just click on the “default” button on your AO3 assignment page (https: //archiveofourown. org/users/YOURNAME/assignments); we’ll find a pinch hitter to create a gift for your recipient instead. If you need an extension to finish your gift, contact the mods before the deadline.

After the reveals, comment on your gift.

Most importantly: be excellent to each other!

Further details below the cut...

Sign-Up information

Sign-ups will take place on AO3 here, starting on June 18th. There, you can fill out details about your request and offer. You can edit your sign-up at any time until the sign-ups close. When signing up, you will be able to choose fandom and genre tags, as well as specify any additional details. You will have to select the DMBJ canon you’re interested in creating and receiving a gift in:

Novels: The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles

TV: The Lost Tomb 1

TV: The Lost Tomb 2 - Explore with the Note

TV: The Lost Tomb 2.5 - Heavenly Palace on the Clouds

TV: Ultimate Note

TV: Tomb of the Sea/Sha Hai

TV: The Lost Tomb Reboot/Reunion: The Sound of Providence

Movies: Time Raiders (note: this is a rare canon, so please choose at least one other canon)

This does not mean that you’re limited to requesting or creating a work during the canon timelines for those series/books. It’s just to mark which canons you’re familiar with to allow for easier matching: some participants might have a preference for a particular canon era, some might not be familiar with all the versions. You still have to choose your preferred canon eras even if you want to create or receive an AU. You will also have to specify genres you’re interested in:

Action/Adventure

Angst

AU

Canon Compliant

Canon Divergent

Dark

Domesticity

Fluff

Humour/Crack

Hurt/Comfort

PWP (only select this if you’re 18+)

Request

In this section, you describe the gift you would like to receive. Fandom - you have to choose at least one. If you’re willing to receive a gift in any canon era, you can just click “Any”! Genre - you have to choose at least three tags. Optional Details - here’s where you can go into more detail about your perfect pingxie gift! You can include:

Fic or Art: If you have a preference of which type of gift you will receive, please say so in your optional details.

General Likes: your creator may, but doesn’t have to, include them. This isn’t a place for detailed prompts, just general themes you enjoy, like getting together or established relationship.

DNW (Do Not Wants): things that your creator must not include - squicks, triggers, things that you simply don’t like. Remember that you don’t owe anyone an explanation about why something is a DNW, and that DNW are not meant to be taken personally. Just list the things you don’t like, “DNW: X, Y.”

Prompts/specific ideas: if you have any prompts, you can also put them here! You can be as general or as detailed as you’d like, but remember that while your creator will try to make the best gift for you, filling a specific prompt is not obligatory. You can include a crossover prompt (with other DMBJ verse or other canons), but make sure it’s not the only prompt you have.

If you chose novels as one of your fandoms, you can use this field to list the ones you’re familiar with. If you’re interested in receiving a Buried Tree Devil - Book 3 Donghua gift, you can also mention it here.

Optional Tags: You may use the optional tags to share more about your preferences, if you like. The requests will be made publicly visible after matching is done, so that others will be able to create treats (additional gifts) based on them! Here’s an example request. (You don’t have to include prompts at all, though remember to include at least some likes to give your creator an idea of what you’d like to receive! This is just an example.)

Offer

Fandom - you have to choose at least one. If you can create works for any canon era, you can choose “Any”! Genre - you have to choose at least three.

Optional Tags: You may use the optional tags to share more about your preferences, if you like. Optional Details - in this field, you can tell us more about the kind of works you like to create, for example if you really prefer established relationship, feel best with certain kinds of AUs, or like writing darkfic. You can also tell us if you have a preference of which type of gift you will create (fic or art).  We’ll take all of these optional details into account when matching! If you chose novels as one of your fandoms, you can use this field to list the ones you’re familiar with. If you’re interested in creating a Buried Tree Devil - Book 3 Donghua gift, you can also mention it here. In the optional details of your offer, you can also name one person you don’t want to be matched to, for example your regular beta, and we will do our best to avoid matching you!

Optional Tags: You may use the optional tags to share more about your preferences, if you like. The offers will only ever be visible to the mods; never to anyone else. Here’s an example offer.

Your assignment

You will be matched to create a gift for someone who requested at least one of the fandoms that you offer, with as many similar genres/likes as possible. This exchange will be hand-matched, with the possible use of AO3’s matching algorithm to first generate the potential matches. If you have any issues when you receive your assignment (you have a question about it or think there’s an issue with it), contact the mods as soon as possible. Do not contact your recipient on your own. You will have to create a gift for your recipient, fulfilling the minimum requirements, and avoiding any stated “do not wants”. Filling exact prompts is optional, but try to create something matching your recipient’s likes that they will enjoy! You will have to post your gift to the exchange AO3 collection before the due date (August 10th), using the “gift this work to” option to give it to your recipient. Your work will remain in the collection only visible to you and the mods until the reveals happen. Remember to tag your work appropriately or use the “chose not to warn” warning.

Treating

Treats are additional gifts for the participants! To allow for treating, the requests will be made visible when matching is done. You can create treats at any time until the creator reveals! There are no minimum requirements for treats, and in addition to fic and art, manips and fanvids are also allowed. As with assignments, you have to respect the recipient’s Do Not Want, and while the optional details are optional, try to create something fitting the listed likes. One treat can only be gifted to one person.

Please note: Now that AO3 has changed the way that gifting works on the archive, if you wish to be eligible for treats, you need to select the option “Allow anyone to gift me works” under the “Collections, Challenges and Gifts” section of your AO3 preferences.  You must also indicate that you are open to treats in your exchange sign-up.

Pinch Hits

In case someone needs to drop out, we will look for a pinch hitter to complete their assignment. Pinch hits will be posted to the DreamWidth community and advertised on tumblr.

Extensions

If you think you can finish your assignment, but you need a day or two more, you can always ask the mods for an extension!

Other important information

Make sure to check the email you use on AO3 frequently during the exchange, as it will be the primary means of communication. We might contact you if there is an issue with your sign-up or if your gift creator has a question for you. If you’d rather we contact you on your twitter or tumblr, please leave your handle in the offer section of your sign-up. Follow us on DreamWidth and/or on tumblr to avoid missing an announcement or a deadline! If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to contact the mods at pingxie-exchange@hotmail.com, on DreamWidth (anonymous comments are allowed), or on tumblr.

A very large thank you to laireshi for writing the rules and guidelines being used for this exchange.  They are presented here with minor changes.

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday singer Colin Hay, born 29th June 1953 in Saltcoats.

Colin spent his first 14 years in Kilwinning but then moved to “a land Down Under” when his family emigrated, to Melbourne . At 21 he met Ron Strykert, and they formed an acoustic duo. They started composing songs for what was going to become Men at Work. After years of hard work gigging and a couple of releases in Australia the band signed for with CBS Records producer Peter McIan, and they released their debut album Business as Usual, with the hit singles Who Can It Be Now?, Be good Johnny and of course the one everyone knows, Down Under!

Men at Work quickly became MTV favourites (during the station’s early days). Since he was the group’s main singer and songwriter, Hay quickly became the focal point of the band, as such humorous videos for “Who Can It Be Now” and “Down Under” pushed the debut album to the top of the U.S. charts – making Men at Work an overnight sensation.

Perhaps sensing that they should strike again while they were still fresh in people’s minds, Men at Work went directly back in the studio to work on another album. Issued in 1983, Cargo was another sizable hit, but did not fare nearly as well as its predecessor, commercially or artistically.

Their third album in 1985, although selling okay in the states did not yield any hit singles, the band split soon afterwards.

Colin continues to make solo records and has taken to acting, appearing in some indie Aussie films, he also toured with Ringo Starr in his annual All Starr Band. If I would described Hays singing, don’t judge it by Down Under, which was a great song but didn’t challenge his voice, some of his other songs are sung much better and have a bit of a former Police frontman “Sting” to them, if you listen to some of his tunes you might hear the resemblance.

I love Colin, he has a great sense of humour, as is evident in many of his songs, Down Under is a fun tune, have a wee listen to the video I have added to this post, Are You Lookin’ At Me? again shows his humour and is a sort of autobiography in song!

In August 2021, Hay released his fourteenth studio album, I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself. The album features 10 versions of some of Hay's favourite songs from The Beatles (Norwegian Wood, Across the Universe) Blind Faith, Del Amitri, Dusty Springfield, Faces, Gerry & the Pacemakers, Glen Campbell (Wichita Lineman), Jimmy Cliff (Many Rivers to Cross) and The Kinks (Waterloo Sunset).

The video is great crack between Colin and Craig Ferguson on The Late Show

[notyouraveragebozo]

A Milestone Is Met!

Late in the day yesterday, on August 29th, 2023, Day 971 of Our Global Presentation of  'A Possible Ancient Crashed Flying Saucer', the website UniqueDestinations.org - experienced its 100,000th site visit! Since first going LIVE in a 14-part Tweet (consisting of a b/w image; five-word cutline; and website domain name - attached to this were: 74 news agencies; 10 specialty organizations; and 63 billionaires and/or their foundational Twitter handles),... We have sought to make the website accessible to as many as possible. - (At the beginning of 'the Script', there is instruction given to the readers to share with those having sight or literacy issues.) After taking the website LIVE,...   We upgraded possible 'Understanding' capacity, by offering Translations in 104 languages, and 'Select-text-to-Voice' in spoken English for those with vision or literacy difficulties. In the last days of the GPS Coordinates Auction, on Super Bowl Sunday, February 12th, 2023, (the week of floating unknown balloons),... We posted an AUDIO Back-Story Twitter Spaces on Our CEO Twitter account. This AUDIO talk  was ONLY PERMITTED to be DISPLAYED / ACCESSED by the 'Twitter-verse' for 6 days,... before the Chief twit and 'free-speech absolutist' - Permanently Suspended - the 'personalized' CEO Twitter account - without any indication of the infractions/rationale that gave rise o such action, (or to make revisions / excisions / retractions /or apologies.) Our presence on Twitter - ended 779 days after - the small veteran-owned/operated business, 'A Urumalli, U Macinasar, G Entum - Unique Destinations Enterprise' which had freely shared, with the global human populace, the Directions to a Dream and Adventure of a Lifetime opportunity - (and possible novel information),... - with Elon Musk. On 3/14/2023  - Einstein's Birthday and Stephen Hawking's Death date and Pi Day, with 30 minutes left to go in the day,... I managed to Update the website, adding a new AUDIO Back-Story Presentation, with transcriptions in 22 languages! - (A genius move it would have been - if ONLY I had marked the videos as - UNLISTED - instead of PRIVATE!) (It was ONLY on 4/27 - before the NEW - "NON - ELON" - AUDIO story  was actually able to be listened to!) We have added more still images and video materials, some musically enhanced. We added a 'Red Carpet "Walk-Around-Tour" video. We shared '30 never before released images' inside of Our 'Not Your Average Cat Video' video, - which may be found on YouTube. We now have merchandise for sale - around - the globe! - Magical-morphing- color-changing coffee mugs -  (with two different styles of finish!) We have reached out to NASA and to the United States Congress. (We are yet awaiting responses.) We added Social media button links to the homepage bottom, so folk might have more to peruse and feast upon. - We've made many changes since Our first visitors graced us. Thank you for your interest and your continued patronage! Please, continue to share the website and the contents with others! (This website was designed and built to have its information be readily accessible and comprehendible by those who would seek to know and learn more, and who have access to a cell phone or computer and the internet.) Thank you kindly for your interest, and your minds - open and active. Keep sharing your gifts. Keep shining. Keep alert. Keep striving to make your corner of the world a little brighter and happier. Thank You all!

Here's to the next 100,000 visits!